Blank feeder means



G. A. ANDERSON BLANK FEEDER MEANS Sgpt, 14, 194s.

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Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLANK FEEDER MEANS Appiicatien .lanuary 28, 1946, Serial No. 643,880

9 Claims.

This invention relates to blank feeding means for apparatus for making handkerchiefs and like articles, and in particular the invention relates to blank feeding means for apparatus 0f the general type shown in United States Patent No. 2,053,257.

In the patent to which reference is made there is illustrated and described an apparatus for producing handkerchiefs in finished form from a web of material (which is preferably already hemmed along its longitudinal edges) entirely automatically.

Briefly, the general plan of operation of the apparatus disclosed in that patent is as follows. The web material, previously hemmed on its longitudinal edges before it enters the apparatus from the side, is gripped and approximately the required amount to form a handkerchief is drawn transversely across the apparatus. The exact length for a handkerchief is then adjusted Iby producing a suitable amount of slack in the web portion. The blank is then clamped along its ends and cut off, and while it is still held in its cut position, the first fold is given to the unhemmed or raw edges. The blank is then moved longitudinally of the machine by blank feeding mechanism and as it is moved its raw edges are further folded by suitable hem formers. At the forward end of the apparatus are two sewing machines. The-blank feeding mechanism advances the blank substantially to the sewing machines and an auxiliary feed mechanism then moves the blank the remainder of the distance to the sewing machines which sew both hem folded edges simultaneously. T-he `handkerchief is then complete. Y

In the previous Patent No. 2,053,257 the blank feeding mechanism was comprised broadly of feed jaws carried by parallelly disposed racks mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in guides. These racks were there adapted to be reciprocated by pinions driven periodically. The feed jaws were provided with serrated edges for gripping the blank.

When the blank feeding mechanism reached the forward end of its movement, the auxiliary feed mechanism would engage the blank and move it beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

Since the blank feeding mechanism of the patent was provided with feeding jaws having serrated gripping surfaces there was no assurance that each blank moved forwardly thereby would be advanced to the same point. The auxiliary feed mechanism, consequently, would not always 2 move each blank accurately to its position bneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of mechanism which while simplified in structure will overcome this and other disadvantages and will assure that each blank is moved to the exact proper position beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

This and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the auxiliary feed mechanism, the chains and associated mechanism comprising theblank feeding means being omitted for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a side view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail -of the swinging frame comprising a part of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective detail showing one of the feed arms of the auxiliary feed mechanism with relation to the presser foot of one of the sewing machines.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the feed arm shown in Fig. 5. l "f Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of t-he forward end of the feed arm.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the forward end of the feed arm, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4.

The mechanisms which comprise the invention are 'all located at-the forward end of apparatus for making handkerchlefs and consequently only the forward end of such apparatus is shown.

Referring now to Fig. l, reference `numeral Il indicates generally the main frame of the apparatus which frame is of rectangular box-like outline and includes vertical uprights such as vI 2 and i3 and horizontal members such as I4 and I5 (see the plan View, Fig. 2). Suitably supported above the frame are parallel spaced supports I6 and I1 for the handkerchief blank as it is moved lforwardly toward the two sewing machines I 8 .J invention it should be mentioned that such rear portion receives a web of handkerchief material whose side edges have been hemmed; cuts off blanks of a length suitable for handkerchiefs (allowing for hems); and then disposes each blank on the spaced parallel supports i6 and il in a position to be moved forwardly (to the left in Figs; 1 and 2). It should also be mentioned that when so disposed on the supports |6 and Il, the raw or unhemmed edges of each blank are in alignment with the parallel supports I and Il and that each blank is provided with a slack portion intermediate the supports.

By the time each blank has reached that portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, its raw or unfinished edges have been given a preliminary fold so as to be ready for further folding. The supports IE and are provided with hem folders and 2| which engage the edges and fold them into hems as the blank is moved forwardly toward the sewing machines i8 and I9.

The apparatus described up to this point specically forms no part of the present invention but for a clear understanding, reference again is made to U. S. Patent No. 2,053,257 which shows mechanism for a-ccomplishing the preliminary operations recited.

Two sewing machines I8 and I9, respectively, are provided for simultaneously sewing the side hems of each blank. Fig. 2 shows the two sewing machines as spaced approximately a handkerchief-width apart. They are standard machines, and theends which contain the stitching mechanism face each other. It is apparent that one of the machines has been reversed or turned end to end with respect to the other. For Clarity, it should be emphasized that in Fig. 2 the blanks feed to the sewing machines from right to left as the figure is viewed.

Fig. 5 shows the reversed machine and it should be made clear that the blanks feed to this Inachine in a direction from left to right as the ligure is viewed.

In order to have both machines feed the blank forwardly (from right to left in Fig. 2), the feed of the reverse machine |8 is reversed, or opposite in direction to the standard feed of the conventional sewing machine. As will be noted `from Fig. 5, it is not necessary that presser foot of this machine face toward thel direction (left to right) in which the blank advances toward the machine.

In accordance with the present invention the means for moving each blank forwardly to the sewing machines I8 and I9 is comprised of a blank feeding mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 22, and an auxiliary feeder, generally designated as 23. The blank feed ing mechanism 22 will be rst described.

The blank feeding mechanism 22 consists of a pair of endless chains 24 disposed in vertical parallel planes directly above the parallel hemmers 20 and 2|. These chains carry gripper feet 25 adapted to engage each blank and press its edges against the hemmers 20 and 2|. As the chains are rotated the gripper feet will, consequently, move the blank forwardly toward the sewing machines. Since both chains and their associated mechanism are similar only one has surface of cam 4'2.

ward brackets, such as 28, which are connected by a cross bar 29. The rear brackets 26 each have a rearwardly extending arm 30 bifurcated to receive a journal block 3| for a transverse shaft 3.2. Mounted on this shaft 32 are two large sprockets, such as 33. The shaft 32 at one end has a smaller sprocket 34 mounted thereon which sprocket 34 is suitably connected as by a chain 35 to be driven periodically from a power source (not shown).

The forward brackets 28 carry a transverse shaft 36 and on this shaft 3B are two sprockets such as 3l. These sprockets 3'| are mounted for free rotation about the shaft 35.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that each rear large sprocket 33 is connected by an endless chain 24 with its corresponding forward small sprocket 3l. As previously indicated each chain 2l is thus disposed in a vertical plane, the planes being disposed respectively above and in alignment with the spaced parallel hemmers 26 and 2| (Fig. 2).

Each chain 2% is provided with tv o triangular link members 38 each carrying a lateral pivot stud 39 on which is pivotally mounted a gripper foot 25. A spring il connected to each stud 39 has a .portion which bears against an edge of the gripper foot 25 thus urging the gripper foot in a direction away from the chain 22'. The inner end of each gripper foot 25 is provided with a lateral extension fil, the purpose of which will be presently described.

Disposed adjacent each rear sprocket 33 is a cam member 42 which may be supported by an arm 2l" secured to the cross bar 2l which connects the rear brackets 26. Each cam member d2 is disposed in a plane to be engaged by the lateral extensions 4| on the inner ends of the gripper feet 25.

Disposed adjacent each forward sprocket 3l is a rigid cam 43. These cams 43 likewise are disposed in planes to be engaged by the lateral extensions 4I on the inner ends of the gripper feet 25.

It should now be evident that as the sprockets 33, 3l are rotated the endless chains 2A will travel thereabout and that each chain, during a part of its path of travel, will move forwardly in astraight line directly above one of the hemmers 2G, 2|. During this part of its path of travel, one of the gripper feet 25 will bear down on a handkerchief blank and move it forwardly toward the sewing machines.

To prevent upward sagging of the chain and so that the gripper feet will maintain an equal pressure on each blank as it is moved forwardly, there is provided for each chain a rigid guide support i4 which may, for example, be secured by the cross bars 21 and 29 of the rear and forward brackets 25 and 28 respectively.

As each gripper foot 25 approaches the forward end of its path of travel, the lateral extension lll on its upper end strikes the cam 43, the surface of which is designed to effect a pivoting of the gripper foot about the pivot stud 39, thus raising the gripper foot upwardly from the handkerchief blank.

Likewise, as each gripper foot moves around a rear sprocket 33 in a clockwise direction, the lateral extension 4| on its inner end strikes the The cam is so designed as to keep the gripper foot in a raised position until the gripper foot moves to the position shown at the right end of Fig. 1, whereupon the spring 4|] will urge the gripper foot into engagement with a blank disposed on the supports 20 and 2|.

The blank feeder mechanism just described is also disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 647,784, filed February 15, 1946.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 of the present drawings that the apparatus just described does not move the blank to a position directly beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines. Each blank must be accurately positioned beneath the presser feet 45 of the sewing machines and for this purpose the invention employs the special auxiliary feeder mechanism 23 which will now be described.

The auxiliary feeder mechanism 23 includes a pair of pusher arms 46, 46', mounted on a shaft 41 (Figs. 4, 1, 2, and 3) comprising apart of a swing frame which (see Fig. 4) includes side uprights 48 and 48 which are connected by the transverse shafts 41, 4'9 and 58, the upper shaft 50 being supported at its ends (Fig. 2) by the forward brackets 28 so that the frame may swing about the axis of Shaft 50.

The side upright 48 is provided with a rearwardly extending arml which is connected by a pivotal joint 52 to an operating rod 53. Ihis rod 53 extends downwardly to a cam mechanism 8i (Fig. 3), which raises and lowers the rod 53 periodically to rock or swing the frame. Mounted on the other end of shaft 58 is a rearwardly extending arm 55 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). A spring 54 is secured at one end to the rearwardly extending arm 55 and at its other end to one of the front brackets 28 thus maintaining the rod 53 in engagement with the cam mechanism.

One end of the rod 41 (Figs. 4 and 3) has a rearwardly extending arm 56 secured thereto. The arm 56 is provided with a roller 51 adapted t0 engage an arcuate shaped cam member 58 carried by an arm 59 secured to one of the forward brackets 28 (Figs. 2 and 3). A spring 60 secured at one end to the rearwardly extending arm 56 and at its other end to the side upright 48 (Figs. 3 and 4) constantly urges the roller 51 into engagement with the cam member 58.

The specic construction of the pusher arms 46 and 46' is perhaps .best illustrated in Figs. 4,

5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 from which it will be seenthat each arm is provided at its inner end with a lateral stud 6| (Figs. 6 and 9). The end and the stud 6| have ya hole therethrough for the shaft 41. The stud 6I supports the coil of the spring 62 one end of which is secured to a collar 63 l which is made rigid with shaft 41 by means of the set screw 64 and .the other end of which extends forwardly adjacent the pusher arm with its end 65 hooked thereover. Also mounted on the shaft 4'1 and secured by a set screw 66 is a short arm member 61 provided with a lateral pin 68. The short arm member 61 is separated on the shaft 41 from the pusher arm proper by means of a washer 69 (Figs. 6 and 9). When the assembly is complete, the lateral pin 68 on the short arm member 61 extends below, and in the plane of the pusher arm proper. It should be clear that the pin 68 limits the downward movement of the pusher arm 46 or 46 which, however, may be raised against the action of the spring 62.

The front end of each pusher arm 46, 46' (see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7) is bent laterally at right angles and then again forwardly parallel to its original position to provide the end portion 16 (Fig. 6). This is provided with a threaded hole 1I. This 1, next advancing blank.

end portion 10 is adapted to adjustably support the nose piece 12 through the medium of the small plate 13 provided with two threaded holes 14 and 15, and the screws'16 and`11-which extend through the slot 18 in the bifurcated rear end of the nose piece 12.

The nose piece 12 is disposed principally in a vertical plane but has an edgeportion 19 which extends laterally at right angles and which is in a plane just below the plane of the lower edge of the vertical portion of the nose piece. As will be apparent from Fig. 8 the nose 12 has a blunt forward end 80.V The edge portion 15 is disposed intermediate the blunt end 80 and the rear end of the nose piece 12.

The arrangement Vdescribed is such that just as the gripper feet 25 carried by the chains 24 (Fig. 1) reach their most forward position and are raised from the handkerchief blank which they have advanced, each pusher arm 46, 46' slides over the blank until the forward edge of the edge portion 19 of the nose piece 12 engages the hem at the inner edge thereof. During this movement the under surface of the portion 19 will ride parallel to the surface of the blank and `may touch the blank but not with sufficient pressure to move the blank in any manner. The forward end 80 of the nose piece 12,'during this movement, rides over the forward transverse hem of the blank and serves the purpose of smoothing it down. Continued forward movement of the pusher arms will result in the forward edge of the portion 19 engaging the forward transverse hem of the blank at the stitching line and in thus moving the blank forwardly to a position directly beneath the presser feet (Fig. 5) of the sewing machines I8 and I8.

The presser feet 45 are operated by mechanism (not shown) so as to be raised just at the proper time. Such mechanism for-ms no specific part of the present invention but reference is made to U. S. Patent No. 2,053,257 for a showing of such mechanism. However, such mechanism may be controlled by an electrical switch 82 (shown in broken lines in the upper partof Fig. 5), which is actuated by a pivoted arm 83. The free downwardly protruding end of the arm 83 is adapted to rest on the blank being stitched, directly over the hole 84. When each blank has been stitched vit clears the hole 84' thus permitting the end of the arm to drop into the hole. Such movement of the arm causes an electrical contact to be -made that unlocks the` sewing machine driving clutch, thereby stopping the sewing machine. I'he presser feet of both sewing machines are then raised at ,the proper time to accommodate the next blank, then lowered and the sewing machines started by the timed movements of the machine.

When each blank has been delivered to the exact same position beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines, the pusher arms 46, 46 are raised and moved rearwardly ready for the It will be noted that the path of movement prescribed by the pusher arms is controlled by the movement of the swinging frame and also by the engagement of the roller 51 (Fig. 4) against the cam surface 58.

Since the movement of each blank by the lpusher arms is not effected until the edge portion 19 ofthe nose piece 12 engages the inside edge of the hem of the blank, it will -be clear that each blank will be advanced to the exact same location regardless ofthe position of the blank at that point where the gripper feet 25 Vcarried by the chains 24 are disengaged from the blank.

As previously indicated, the raw or unhemmed side edges of the blank have, during forward movement, been folded ready for hemming. The sewing machines, operating simultaneously, consequently stitch the side hems, whereupon the handkerchief is completed.

For completeness, reference should also be made to the means for exerting an upward pressure against each blank as it moves toward the sewing machines. Such means (which is shown in broken lines in the drawings) is comprised of a pair of arms 85, each of which is mounted on the transverse shaft 86. The upper portion of each arm 85 is provided with a foot 81 having a felt pad 88 which extends upwardly through a slot 89 in the hem folder so as to engage the underside of the handkerchief blank.

vThe upwardly exerted pressure of each of the felt pads 88 against the handkerchief can be regulated. The reference numeral 90 represents a coil spring which surrounds the shaft 85, one end of the spring engaging the arm 85 and the other being secured to a collar 92. It will be apparent that the springs 90 will urge the arms 85 upwardly. The tension of each spring can be regulated by turning a collar 92, and then securing the collar to the shaft 8B by a set screw. Also secured to the-shaft 9| is a hooked arm B3 (one to each arm 85), the hook portion of which is adapted to engage a laterally extending lug 94 on the arm 85. Means are provided for periodically lowering the felt pads from their blank engaging position. For a more complete showing and description of the above mechanism, reference may be made to my copending application, Serial Number 662,282, filed April 15, 1946.

It should be manifest that some changes in structure and arrangement can be made without departing from the invention which is not to be limited by this disclosure except as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a handkerchief making machine, apparatus for advancing blanks toward sewing machines which simultaneously sew their side edges into hems, the fonward and rear edges of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said advancing apparatus comprising, support means for thc side edges of a blank, endless chain` means disposed above said support means, said chain means carrying gripping means for successively engaging handkerchief blanks when said chain means is actuated, and for moving said blanks on said support means to a point adjacent the presser feet of the sewing machines, and auxiliary feeder means having an element for engaging the inner edge of the forward hem of .a handkerchief blank moved to said point for moving the blank the remainder of the distance to a point where the side edges of the blank are positioned beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

2. An apparatus for advancing blanks for making handkerchiefs and the like toward sewing machines which simultaneously sew their side edges into hems, the forward and rear edges of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel supports disposed parallel to the presser feet of the sewing machines, a pair of endless chains provided with gripping means for pressing the blank against said supports, means for actuating |the chains whereby the gripping means advances the blank forward to a point adjacent the presser feet of the sewing machines, and auxiliary feeder means havin-g an element for engaging the inner edge: of the forward hem of the blank and moving the blank the remainder of the distance to a point beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

- 3. An apparatus for advancing blanks for making handkerchiefs and the like toward sewing machines which simultaneouslyr sew their side edges into hems, the forward and rear edges of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel supports disposed parallel to the presser feet of the sewing machines, a pair of endless chains disposed above said supports and having portions extending parallel to said supports in the same vertical plane, hem formers carried by said supports, gripper feet carried by said endless chains and positioned to grip a blank and, when said chains are actuated to move the blank forwardly while its side edges are formed for hemming, and auxiliary blank feeding means for engaging the inner edge of the forward hem when the gripper feet have reached the extent of their forward movement and for moving |the blank beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

4. An apparatus for advancing blanks for making handkerchiefs and the like toward sewing machines for simultaneously sewing their side edges into hems, the forward and rear edges of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said apparatus comprising, a pair of spaced parallel supports for said side edges, a pair of endless chains mounted on sprockets and positioned respectively above said parallel supports, and at least a portion of each chain being disposed in the same vertical plane as said supports respectively and parallel thereto, said endless chains each having gripper feet carried thereby, means i or rotating said sprockets to actuate said endless chains, means for moving said gripper feet into engagement with a handkerchief blank whose edges are disposed on said supports to move the blank fonwardly to a position directly adjacent of the presser feet of the sewing machines, and auxiliary feed means for engaging the inner edge of the forward hem of the blank and to move it beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

5. In a handkerchief making machine, apparatus for advancing blanks toward sewing machines which simultaneously sew their side hems, the forward and rear edges of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said advancing apparatus comprising, a frame, support means on said frame for the side edges of the blank as it is advanced toward the sewing machines, means for advancing the blanks along said support means to a point adjacent the presser feet of the sewing machines, means for folding the side edges of said blanks into hems as they are so advanced, and auxiliary feeder means for moving each blank from said point to a position where the front ends of the side edges are beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines, said auxiliary feeder means including a frame mounted for swinging movement, a pair of elements extending forwardly from the l-ower part of said frame, said elements each having a fiat edge portion for engaging the inner edge of the forward hem of each blank, and cam controlled means for raising and lowering said elements during different positions of said swinging frame.

6. In a handkerchief making machine, feeder means for advancing blanks to a position where the front ends of their side edges are disposed beneath the presser feet of sewing machines which simultaneously sew the side hems, at least the forward edge of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said handkerchief machine having a pair of brackets extending upwardly from its sides,-said feeder means comprising a rectangular frame mounted at its upper ends on said brackets for swinging movement, a rod extending across the lower portion of said frame and mounted for turning movement about its axis, a pair of arms mounted on said rod and extending forwardly, said arms having a flat edge portion for engaging the forward hem of each blank at the inner edge of the hem, and cam controlled means for turning said rod to raise and lower said arms during different positions of said swing frame.

'7. In a handkerchief making machine, feeder means for advancing blanks to a position where the front ends of their side edges are disposed beneath the presser feet of sewing machines which simultaneously sew the side hems, at least the forward edge of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said handkerchief machine having a pair of brackets extending upwardly from its sides, said feeder means comprising a rectangular frame mounted at its upper ends on said brackets for swinging movement, a rod extending across the lower portion of said frame and mounted for turning movement about its axis, a pair of arms mounted on said rod and extending forwardly, said arms having a flat edge portion for engaging the forward hem of each blank at the inner edge of the hem, and cam controlled means for turning said rod to raise and lower said arms during different positions of said swing frame, said arms having a nose portion disposed slightly above and extending forwardly of said flat edge portion.

8. In a handkerchief making machine, feeder means for advancing blanks to a position Where the front ends of their side edges are disposed beneath the presser feet of sewing machines which simultaneously sew the side hems, at least the forward edge of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said handkerchief machine having a pair of brackets extending upwardly from its sides, said feeder means comprising a rectangular frame mounted at its upper ends on said brackets for swinging movement, a rod extending across the lower portion of said frame and mounted for turning movement about its axis, a pair of arms mounted on said rod and extending forwardly, said arms having a flat edge portion for engaging the forward hem of each blank at the inner edge of the hem, and cam controlled means for turning said rod to raise and lower said arms during different :positions of said swing frame, said cam controlled means comprising an arm secured to said rod and extending rearwardly thereof, a roller carried by said rod, a stationary arcuate cam surface engaged by said roller, and elastic means urging said roller into engagement with said cam surface.

9. In a handkerhief making machine having sewing mahines positioned to sew the opposite side hems of a handkerchief blank simultaneously, feeder means for advancing blanks to a position where the front ends of their side edges are disposed beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines, atleast the forward transverse edge of the blanks having been previously hemmed, said feeder means including an element having a substantially horizontal flat portion provided with a forward transverse edge, said element having a forwardly protruding nose portion the lower edge of which is raised slightly above the plane of the upper surface of said flat portion, means for moving said element over the surface of a blank to cause said nose portion when it passes over the forward transverse hem of the blank to smooth said hem down, continued movement of said element by said means then effecting engagement of said forward transverse edge with the inner stitching edge of the forward transverse hem of the blank and through such engagement then effecting movement of the blank forwardly a predetermined distance.

GUSTAVE A. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 445,351 Kerr Jan. 27, 1891 1,929,970 Floyd Oct. 10, 1933 2,053,257 Anderson Sept. 8, 1936 

